Using adaptation knowledge to retrieve and adapt design cases

Two critical stages in case-based design are the retrieval of a suitable design and the adaptation of that design. When a new design problem is presented to the system, the retrieval stage locates a similar design solution that is reusable in the current context. During adaptation, retrieved designs are modified to meet the specific demands of the target problem. In this paper, we address both of these stages in the context of a casebased software design system called Déjà Vu. In particular, we argue that there is a close relationship between the reusability of a design and its adaptability. We present an approach that allows the adaptation requirements of design cases to be accurately determined during retrieval and subsequently exploited during adaptation. We show that this approach results in improved retrieval accuracy, flexibility, and greater overall problem solving efficacy. In short, our position is that this "adaptation-guided retrieval" will ensure optimal reusability in case-based design.